Per A.R.S. §38-431.02, all notices of the public meetings for the Arizona Department of Education can be accessed by clicking the link below. Notices will also be posted outside the State Board of Education Meeting Room on the first floor at 1535 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007, which is open to the public between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday except legal holidays. Such notices will indicate the date, time, and place of the meeting and will include an agenda.

Arizona Department of Education

Superintendent Douglas Meets With Secretary DeVos in D.C.

(Phoenix, Ariz., March 24, 2017) – Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas recently returned from the national Council of Chief Superintendents of Schools Organization (CCSSO) annual conference in Washington, D.C. During her trip, she met with fellow state superintendents from around the country, as well as with United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, conferring on a number of topics.

Since Arizona was the first and only state to submit its Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan to the U.S. Department of Education, the CCSSO cited the leadership demonstrated to other states by the Superintendent and the Arizona Department of Education. Representatives from other states have already sought out the Superintendent to learn how they can replicate the initiatives Arizona has included in its ESSA plan.

Douglas was also provided the opportunity to briefly meet individually with Secretary DeVos, welcoming her to office and inviting the new Secretary of Education to visit Arizona. The Superintendent extended the invitation to Secretary DeVos in order to further demonstrate the work Arizona has already accomplished on developing standards, school choice and ESSA.

During her time with other state superintendents and school chiefs, the Superintendent was also praised for the state’s successes with providing a myriad of parental and school options. With her counterparts, she also discussed education policy and advocated an increase in funding for Native American education, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, increased funding and Arizona’s Zip Code Project.

“It was an honor to meet Secretary DeVos and I am looking forward to working with an administration that is better aligned with our education goals,” Douglas said. “Under our partnership with the administration, I am hopeful that Arizona will receive increased funding and flexibility. In addition, CCSSO was very complimentary of our state’s ability to lead the way for our country and submit our ESSA plan before anyone else.”

The Superintendent has already scheduled upcoming regular conversations with CCSSO, her fellow state superintendents and with Secretary DeVos.